From vm.cnuce.cnr.it!abraham Thu Dec 17 20:48:18 1992
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 19:05:43 MET
Reply-To: Abraham
From: Abraham
Subject: Regional INformatics Network for AFrica (RINAF) Project
To: "Robert D. Collet" ,
Tom Dunkenberger ,
SUSAN DINSMORE YOUNG , bshiflet@icm1.icp.net,
skw@merit.edu, smr@merit.edu, gsp@merit.edu, mak@merit.edu,
Rusty Schweickart ,
randy@psg.com (Randy Bush), Daniel Hagan
Status: RO
Hi! people here I am again. I am very happy that you people are interested
in what we are doing here in PISA Italy. So here is a draft of a publication
that can give you an idea on what we are doing. There are a lot of
things done after this publication so little by little I will let you
know. If you have other questions (specific) that you want to know you
are wellcome.
PUBLICATION
RINAF: a network interconnection project of academic and
research institutions in Africa
L. Abba(*), S. Giordano(**), S. Trumpy(*)
(*) CNUCE Institute of CNR Via S. Maria 36 56126 Pisa -
Italy ph:+39 50 593211 fax: +39 50 589354
(**) Department of Information Engineering - University of
Pisa Via Diotisalvi, 2 56126 Pisa -
Italy ph: +39 50 568671 fax: +39 50 550560
E-mail: AFRICOM@ICNUCEVM.CNUCE.CNR.IT
Abstract
The Regional INformatics Network for AFrica (RINAF) Project
was recently started by UNESCO, under Italian Government
Funding. The aim of the project is to contribute to the
interconnection of academic and research institutions in
Africa among them and with the international research
community. An investigation on the present status of
computer utilisation and network facilities in each country
is being conducted and information is also being collected
on institutions capable of managing and maintaining the
nodes of RINAF. Depending on the presence of organised
groups of computer technicians, it will be possible to start
the implementation of the network. The regional nodes will
have human resources dedicated to the support and
maintenance of the network and they will be connected with
national nodes which will imply less responsibility and less
expensive computer resources.
1.The RINAF Project
1.1 The aim
The Regional INformatics Network for AFrica (RINAF) Project
was conceived by the Intergovernmental Informatics Program
(IIP) of UNESCO in 1985 (01). At that time, no initiatives
to set up research network services in Africa existed. Due
to delays incurred in gathering fundings and obtaining
burocratical approval, the project was started late in 1991
with funding of about 1 million dollars from the Italian
Government. The official opening of the project was held in
DAKAR, in February 1992. At that time, a number of projects
were started under the initiative of different governments,
companies or institutions of the more developed countries;
some initiatives were also started by the African countries
themselves. For these reasons, the RINAF project decided to
invest the funding available to promote the use of research
network services by cooperation with the initiatives already
existing.
The aim of the project is to:
- use new information and telecommunications technologies to
favour exchanges between African countries;
- remedy the isolation of development and research
institutions in African countries and facilitate dialogue
between researchers, academics and industrialists;
- develop an operative process for the coordination,
integration and upgrading of African networks, as well as
exchange with other international networks.
The IIP is seeking additional funding for the RINAF project
from the governments and/or institutions in the more
developed countries in order to reach a tangible improvement
in the communications between scientific institutions in
Africa and with the more developed world. The objective is
to secure funding for an amount of 12 million dollars for
the RINAF project.
1.2 The organisation
Bearing this financial objective in mind, IIP has set up an
organisational structure for the project which has a focal
point from each of the African countries; this focal point,
designated by a competent Ministry (for Scientific and
Technological research, for State modernisation, for
University or for other), is responsible for representing
the computer communication needs of his country. A first
general assembly of the focal points was held in Dakar on
the 28-29 February 1992.
Decisions regarding grants currently available from the
Italian Government are taken by a Steering Committee, which
will act during the two years period envisaged to carry out
the objectives put into action by the Italian contribution.
In Dakar an interim African Committee was set up to propose
the actions to be taken in order to take the best advantage
of funding available; the African Committee will represent a
forum, whereby the regions of Africa define the status of
the utilisation of information technology means in the
countries and the requirements for RINAF. The interim
African Committee is presently composed of representatives
from North Africa (Algeria), East Africa (Kenya), West
Africa (Senegal) and by the Technical Coordinator of the
project.
Stefano Trumpy, Director of the CNUCE Institute of the
Italian National Council for Research (CNR), has been
nominated Technical Coordinator for the RINAF Project. The
task of the Technical Coordinator is to propose a set of
initiatives and investments to the African Committee, based
on the knowledge of the situation concerning network
infrastructure and computer usage in the African countries.
A structure has been set up in Pisa to support the Technical
Coordinator in starting the initiatives, testing the
technical solutions and activating the training activities.
This structure is composed of :
- the network infrastructure team from CNUCE;
- the Networks Group set up at the Consorzio Pisa Ricerche
(a research institutions and industries consortium located
in Pisa), under the supervision of CNUCE;
- associations representing the African national students
from the university of Pisa;
- representatives from the computer manufacturers and TLC
providers giving support to the project (DATACONSYST,
DIGITAL, HP, IBM ITALCABLE, OLIVETTI).
1.3 The project phases
A first phase of the project will consist in an
investigation of the situation in African countries
regarding:
- the status of telecommunications and computer utilisation;
- the cooperation, where existing, with international
networks;
- the cooperation with projects, of a different nature,
involving the realisation or the improvement of an existing
nucleus of national or regional research networks;
- the presence of sites where to invest in terms of
hardware, software and training;
- the existing cooperation with TLC carriers and computer
manufacturers.
The sources of information for this investigation are
existing literature and specific questionnaires filled up by
single countries, under the coordination of the national
focal points. This analysis is being carried out with
particular reference to cost. Different technical and
topological solutions will be proposed depending on the cost
and the quality of the services associated.
Following this detailed information, the second step will be
to decide who can manage and maintain the nodes of a RINAF
network.
Depending on the services provided, the RINAF nodes will be
defined as regional nodes, with wider functions, and
national nodes. The regional nodes, up to six, will be those
supporting international or intercontinental links, and
dedicating human resources to the support and maintenance of
the network, as well as to training. These main nodes will
be supported by developed countries in order to give a
technical background in the field of networking and network
management. The national nodes will have the task of
improving the utilisation of their national network, or
starting it, by using non expensive technology (i.e.
switched lines) for access to the basic set of services.
The return of the completed questionnaires is expected by
the end of April and a proposal to start a first set of
regional and national nodes will be prepared by the
Technical Coordinator during the following month. The
proposal will then be submitted to the African Committee.
The second phase of the project will then be the realisation
of the approved initiatives.
2 The available technical choices
Today telecommunications technology offers a wide spectrum
of feasible solutions characterised by different physical
media, quality of services and costs. In the following we
will summarise some technical choices suitable for African
countries.
2.1 Data conveyance infrastructure and terminal equipment
The primary component of each computer network architecture
is the link which has to be used to establish a remote
communication between users or devices located at different
sites. The term "link" will be used to refer to channels,
lines or virtual data path, depending on the technology
used. The transmission systems considered in the framework
of an African interconnection will be based on a public or
private set of communication links using:
- Switched lines
typically used to connect a computer to a terminal, or to
connect PCs and TTY terminals to an X.25 network. Switched
lines can also be used to build up low cost international
interconnections;
- Dedicated or leased lines
used to build up the framework of a much more reliable
network, where the process of storing and forwarding data is
usually supported by specialised communication hardware;
- Microwave links
an effective solution to implement long haul links or Radio
Frequency backbones (in the range of GHz) in countries where
a terrestrial link would be much too expensive;
- Satellite links
usually considered suitable as
backbones for extremely wide area networks in the past, at
present they can be used as an access point for low cost
stand alone (isolated) computer stations (10);
- Packet Radio links
form a network developed by volunteers from the world of CB
and Radio-amateurs which modulate on radio carriers (in the
range of MHz) digital traffic with techniques similar to
those used by packed switched networks; one of the special
characteristics of these techniques is the possibility to
easily move each station;
- Fibre Optic links
state of the art in developed countries for backbone links;
although their cost is decreasing they are still very
expensive and often not so easy to obtain from the PTTs.
In order to obtain a much more efficient utilisation of the
bandwidth of the communication links described above, we
need to use particular modems. Modems can be divided into 3
main classes:
- Radio modems (or modems for RTTY-Radio Teletype);
- Asynchronous Modems;
- Synchronous Modems.
The main differences between them are related to speed and
reliability: asynchronous modems can send packets of the
size of a character (typically 7 or 8 bits long); there is
no perfect bit synchronisation between sender and receiver;
they are inexpensive and can be used on a common twisted
pair. Synchronous modems can send longer packets (called
frames which typically have a few thousand of bits length);
the bit rate is synchronised between sender and receiver,
they are faster and generally make use of a double twisted
pair (one to transmit and one to receive). Synchronous
modems are typically used on dedicated lines and
asynchronous modems are used on switched lines. Radio modems
are typically asynchronous and need to be connected to a
radio transceiver: they are used for radio packet switching
networks and have been used recently to store and forward
files or electronic mail through satellite links from
station to station.
Although several network protocols include the error
detection and recovery function, in recent time, inexpensive
modems can perform similar functions through built-in
hardware capabilities. These modems are particularly
suitable for developing countries situation, where the
signal to noise ratio is particularly low and unpredictable.
Recently a new de-facto standard has been realised by
multicarrier modems of Telebit which allow to maximise the
throughput of a dial-up voice channel (07).
2.2 Network protocols
The simplest way to build up a network supporting batch
services is to let one system copy its files to another:
this leads to a variety of protocols that are the basis for
a great number of popular and inexpensive networks; they do
not require a great deal of maintenance and can adopt
dial-up (switched) lines. The typical applications supported
by these networks are based on file transfer and the most
used is electronic mail: each computer has a logical address
and can be reached by another with store and forward
techniques, based on protocols which can route each mail
from one site to another. The process is as follows: each
computer stores the mail composed by the users either
directly from the keyboard of the computer connected to the
network, or by dialling from home (using cheap asynchronous
modems), and submitting a piece of mail prepared in local
mode. During the night (or at predefined time intervals) the
computer calls the nearest machine able to forward the mail
to the destination computer which will store the file until
the user will read it. These networks are very inexpensive
and can be built up using Unix systems or less expensive
MS/DOS PCs and Macintosh. Each computer needs only a modem
and the programs necessary to manage the file transfer. The
modems are typically asynchronous but very fast with error
correction features, in order to reduce the time of the
phone call that the file transfer requires, and thus the
cost of the network paid by each node.
The other most common networks are built using dedicated
lines and special programs designed to let applications (for
instance e-mail programs of message handling systems) talk
to the operating system of another computer.
These programs are sometimes very complex and are referred
to as protocols.
Depending on the protocols used, we have different networks;
the most popular are DECnet SNA networks which are based on
DEC and IBM products respectively, but also EARN, BITNET,
and NORTHNET which were originally made using IBM protocols
were later opened to several other computer and operating
systems. Internet is based on TCP/IP which is a protocol
designed to interconnect Local Area Networks to set up an
heterogeneous wide area network (now the widest network in
the world).
While these networks were originated from Academic and
Research community, PTT carriers have built up their own
public data networks called Public Packed Switched Networks
which are implemented on the X.25 recommendation of the
CCITT and with different names for each country (ITAPAC in
Italy, TYMENET in Usa TUNIPAC, SENPAC in Africa, etc.).
2.3 User services
Networks may also be defined by the user services supported.
It is absolutely essential that data communication services
be integrated and made available to users.
Computer network services are usually classified on two
basic kinds of services (04):
- Computer mediated communication services (CMC), which
allow people to exchange information;
- Resource sharing services, which allow the user to access
computing resources (binary or text file transfer, databases
access, and CPU power sharing, etc.).
Both types of services may also be either batch or
interactive. This means that, in an interactive service, a
message may be delivered and read immediately or, in a batch
service after a delay. CMC services may be primarily either
one-to-one (mail), one-to-many (distribution lists or
bulletin boards), or many-to-many (news or e-mail conference
systems).
Many researchers, in more developed countries, see the
services offered by a network as an essential support to
their research activities and believe that the services
available at present are a minimum. They expect to see a
great increase in the future. Due to the present situation
and the funds available, the RINAF project decided to give
priority to the implementation of electronic mail and
database access services.
2.3.1 Electronic Mail
Computer networks existing at present use dissimilar
protocols at the network layer but, at the application
layer, there is one service that is converted and
interconnected almost universally: this service is the
electronic mail service.
The user of the e-mail service must have access to at least
one of the research networks. This can be realised through a
PC with a modem and a common telephone line or, obviously,
with direct access to a computer centre connected to the
networks.
The text of the message is named mail body. The addresses of
the recipients and other information form the header of the
mail. Software called Mail User Agent is used to prepare the
body of the mail, then a process called Local Agent or Mail
Transfer Agent picks up the mail and sends it through the
network to the recipients. Usually the E-mail user interface
helps to:
- keep track of correspondents' electronic addresses;
- read, reply to, forward, print, and save incoming mail in
notebooks, as well as creating, sending, and saving outgoing
mail in notebooks. Incoming mail is stored by the system in
the mailbox;
- reread the mail saved in notebooks, and reply to, forward,
print, and/or discard it.
A great deal of more sophisticated services offered by
computer networks are based on electronic mail and, due to
the lack of standardisation at the application level, E-mail
is often the only way to interoperate between different
networks. It is a powerful way to start up electronic
debates on an extremely wide range of subjects. These
services are often called Bulletin Boards or E-Mail
Conferences (04). They can be among a closed group or an
open group of users. Each debate has a coordinator and these
services are the best way to establish contacts with people
with mutual areas of interest. It is possible to subscribe
or sign-on to a list of users with the same interests,
receiving in this way all the letters sent to the bulletin
board or to the electronic debate. A user can of course sign
off (or un-subscribe) from the list when he is no longer
interested in the subject.
2.3.2 Data Base Access
Network servers dedicated to distributing text files (11)
(e.g. documentation), public domain software, and recorded
mail of interest to the community are the typical data base
systems present on a wide area network.
By mail (02), and sometimes by real time messages, it is
possible to submit queries to the data base and (by mail)
they will be received at the user destination mailbox. Thus
usual access to a data base is not in real time or
interactive . The user has to submit the query and then
wait for the system and for the network to receive the
answer back. Apart from this slight inconvenience, remote
access to automatic information and public domain software
on the network is extremely appealing to the network user.
With E-mail this is one of the most popular services among
remote users. For developing countries this is a possibility
of great interest as apart from interchanging information
between network users, this is sometimes the best way to
receive information of great interest about research,
learning material and other social activities.
Access to databases may of course be achieved in an
interactive way with remote login to the site where the
database is maintained (12). This application requires
faster, more reliable links and also the possession of a
user account which implies costs.
2.4 Computing equipment
With the recent boom in low cost PCs and software packages
to interconnect to international networks, the single user
workstation has become the most common and low cost network
nodes. A single workstation may also function as a mailbox
to connect a number of end-users. Therefore the RINAF
project may contribute to increase the utilisation of
network services by implementing a number of mailboxes built
up on standard MS/DOS PCs or workstations. In cases where
some multiuser computer centres already exist, the RINAF
project may contribute by connecting them to a network and
improving the international connectivity. In the latter
approach, the whole user community of the existing computing
centres will immediately join the international user
community.
3 Present status of network activities in African countries
Some African countries are already connected, or plan to be
connected, to the international research networks. Based on
information from different sources, it appears that there
are several countries in Africa with an X.25 network
operating like Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Mauritius Is., South
Africa, Ivory Cost, Gabon, Niger, Mozambique, Namibia,
Zimbabwe, Togo and Chad.
Several other network initiatives, or projects involving
multinational data networks in different stages of
realisation, are (13): Esanet (between Uganda, Tanzania,
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya), Rio (between Senegal, Mali, Niger,
Burkina Faso, Togo, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Cost), Ngonet
(between Tunisia, Senegal, Kenya, Zimbabwe), Wednet (between
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya, Zambia,
Zimbabwe), HealthNet-Satellife (between Uganda, Kenya,
Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe), Padisnet (based at the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA, with 34
countries connected), Worknet (South Africa), Mango
(Zimbabwe, South Africa), Arsonet (Ethiopia, Senegal, Kenya,
Egypt), Uninet-ZA (South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe,
Namibia, Zambia, Kenya and Ethiopia), Afrinet (Kenya,
Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda), Afrikanet (Cameroon), EARN
(Tunisia, Marocco, Egitto, Algeria).
Many of these networks are implemented using Fido
Technology. Other solutions are achieved by means of mini
(Unix) systems connected to an X.25 public network and
running the TCP/IP (encapsulated) protocol on a packet
switching network. Several personal computers are connected
to a mini, sharing access to e-mail and all the other
services available on Internet.
Another interesting solution is offered by using UUCP on a
Dos machine emulating the behaviour of a Unix system for all
that concerns the store and forward of mail and files. The
connection to UUCP gives the user access to the E-mail and
file transfer services on Internet.
4 Some technological solutions for RINAF
Following the description of some technical aspects of
networking and the present status of network activities in
Africa, we should like to highlight some considerations
related to the current directions of the evolution of
academic and research networks in developed countries. The
task of building up an interconnected network (an internet)
composed of different local area networks was pointed out by
the academic and research community at Arpanet's time.
The idea was to use a special protocol called an Internet
Protocol, useful to mask the physical, topological and
architectural heterogeneity of single networks in a logical,
virtual, and unique network.
Proprietary solutions from major computer manufacturers were
oriented to separate directions with only willingness to
migrate to OSI (Open System Interconnection) standards
sometime in the future.
Large, well known networks like EARN, BITNET, HEPNET, etc.
were built up using a special set of protocols originally
built for a particular system. Different systems could be
connected to the network implementing the same stack of
protocols, or in other words, having the same behaviour,
from an external point of view, as the proprietary systems.
Now a new process has emerged in the academic and research
community as well as in the industrial community: it is
founded on a multivendor, multiprotocol networking paradigm
oriented to meet user requirements of any scale,
configuration or application. The term "internet" will be
used as the general term for a global, mainstream network
architecture. Internet architectures will become the
general-purpose network infrastructures providing the
interconnection of LAN and WAN physically based on fibre,
copper, coax, RF (radio frequency) interconnections
characterised by a variety of data link techniques: the
building blocks of such architectures are bridges, routers
and gateways (06). We will try to realistically face the
tasks aimed by the RINAF project in the framework of this
multiprotocol networking paradigm.
Depending on cost, services, expected quality of services,
and the present computer network infrastructure of each
different country we will try to reduce the wide spectrum of
possible solutions for a network interconnection of African
research and academic institutions.
One of the most important parameters in trying to size a
network interconnection, or any network access, are the link
capacity and their expected utilisation. Link capacity is
the most expensive part of a network and unfortunately the
cost of a link and its capacity are not easily related.
Moreover these costs differ for each country.
Although in the future the allocation of bandwidth will be
"on demand", at present the bandwidths are fixed. Leased
connections are characterised by higher throughputs than
dial up connections which usually correspond to voice
channels (less then 4 KHz); another characteristic of dial
up connections is the bad signal to noise ratio which can
prevent the use of common modems at maximum speeds (07).
By making use of complex signal modulation techniques it is
possible to transmit data at speeds near to the theoretical
limit imposed by the signal to noise ratio of the connection
in an adaptive way. The use of error detection and recovery
techniques, together with the use of efficient data
compression methods performed by the modems, make it
possible to reach data rates which, in the past, were an
exclusive prerogative of dedicated connections (05). Those
modems can use different modulation techniques by selecting
a relevant subset of the carriers having the best signal to
noise ratio.
In terms of software and computer systems, it is possible to
use special purpose programs oriented to a specific network
services: the most common are electronic mail and file
transfer. Using this software, a common stand alone PC with
enough hard disk space can be considered as a node of a
store and forward network, supporting e-mail and file
transfer, implemented using fast modems and common switched
lines or radio connections (04).
The task of the RINAF project will be achieved making use of
technical approaches which will differ for each different
country, and be modular and flexible as the network grows.
As mentioned before, our intention is not oriented to any
special network architecture, but, depending on lines,
systems and telecommunication devices available, we will try
to present "de facto" standard solutions conforming to the
academic and research activity of the rest of the world.
At the very least, using only a telephone line, a good modem
and a PC, it will be possible to build up a node of a wide
area network. We call a node a system which can be accessed
by more than one user for at least electronic mail
applications.
The minimal solution for the interconnection of an
institution will be based on the so called "FIDO technology"
(considering technology as the stack of programs utilised to
build up a node using an MS/DOS system). The FIDO network
(called FIDONET) is an extremely wide spread network based
on store and forward capabilities for the transfer of files,
texts and mail, using switched lines. Each node has a modem
which lets users send or receive mail by logging in, without
any charge, using a common VT100 terminal emulating program
(like kermit, procomm, xterm, simpc, crosstalk, etc.).Using
several start-stop file transfer protocols each user can
also send or receive files from the node in the same way as
a micro sends or receives files from a mainframe or a mini.
To give to every user the opportunity to use the network the
FIDONET node assigns each user a maximum time, after which
the user is cut off by the system. Access to the system is
in this way similar to that offered by BBS (Bulletin Boards
Systems). Of course this kind of access can be cost
effective only for those users very near to the FIDONET
node. During the night, or in periods of time corresponding
to lower billing, the FIDONET node automatically calls the
nearest node or the regional node directly. The cost of
these calls are lower in comparison to the remote access
performed by the normal users, by data compression and
efficient forwarding techniques.
To reduce the cost of phone calls, and to automatize the
file transfer procedures, remote users may have their PC
configured as a FIDO POINT, which is a sort of sub node of a
Fido node. Using a POINT the files are automatically
transferred after a data compression process: in this way
mail and files are sent and received in a faster way.
FIDONET is organised in several regions corresponding to
continents. In each region there is a node with the task of
storing and forwarding the traffic produced by the entire
continent to the other continents. The trasmission of mail
and files can usually be achieved by the multiple storing
and forwarding of files from a system to the nearest one
reducing the cost of the calls performed by each system.
Using a multicarrier modem it is also possible to specify
directly to the system where to call giving an explicit
control of the routing of files and mail. Fidonet is also
supported by packet radio links or satellite connections
which make it possible to use this technology where no
telephone lines are available. Fidonet already has several
interconnections to Internet via e-mail gateways.
This "lower level" solution based on store and forward
technique is similar to UUCP (Unix to Unix CoPy) solution which is at
the base of widespread networks like: Eunet, Usenet, Junet, SDN,
Auseanet, Pacnet.
There are three principal classes of protocols in UUCP
networks: the "g protocol" which breaks data into packets,
uses checksums to detect errors and retransmits, when
necessary, over common switched lines; the "f protocol"
which follows the same procedure but over an X.25 network,
and the so called "t protocol", used by UUCP networks based
on TCP/IP connections.
The limitation of this solution is that it is not possible
to make up interactive sessions on remote systems (remote
login). The access to remote data bases is only possible in
a "batch" way. Mailing and file transfer capabilities are
delayed considerably by the store and forward mechanism
performed by UUCP or Fido systems. Interactive sessions can
be activated on TCP/IP networks. We have looked at three
possible types of approach to TCP/IP networking: using
switched lines, using X.25 networks, and using leased lines.
All of these solutions were developed in the framework of
Csnet (Computer Science Network) (04).
Now, taking costs into consideration we will propose a
technical solution based on real TCP/IP connections on
switched lines using specialised hardware Dial-up routers.
Dial up routers can be linked to a modem pool connected to
the public switched telephone network. Each routers are
connected to one or more local area networks and when the
address of the packet is for a remote network the router
establishes a connection to another remote dial up router
directly interconnected to a TCP/IP Wan. In this way one or
more LANs are connected to the IP network and their users
can continue to use standard application programs like
Telnet (for remote login), Ftp (for binary or text file
transfer) or e-mail with a common Internet address scheme.
The router can also act as a terminal server for a single
workstation or PC using SLIP (Serial line IP). When an IP
connection reaches the maximum utilisation offered by a
switched line and a fast modem, it will be possible to use
the Dial up router as a common router (LAN to leased line
router) using an optional card for 56Kbit/sec connections.
If higher speeds are needed building up a backbone, the
system can act as a backup router. These dial up routers
also have the capability of line sharing over multiple dial-
up lines. This means that leased lines can be simulated on a
temporary basis over the public switched network.
Due to the great diffusion of X.25 networks in some of the
African countries, TCP/IP (or UUCP) networks can be based on
X.25 connections. These solutions are similar to X25net a
TCP/IP network built in Csnet for users able to use TELENET
(a public X.25 network in Usa) to reach Internet (04). As an
alternative solution, conforming with the choices of the
research and academic community in terms of network
interconnections, the use of multiprotocol routers (e.g.
cisco, Proteon, Wellfleet, etc.) will be proposed in
countries which have institutions or centres already based
on different network architectures for interconnections
within the countries.
In summary, depending on the availability of lines, modems,
PCs, Mini or Mainframes and know-how on different operating
systems, RINAF will contribute to build up a multiprotocol
architecture oriented to users services, flexible in terms
of modularity, and upgradable where better telecommunication
resources are available.
>From very low cost solutions based on high quality
multicarrier modems and stand alone PCs, the regional nodes
will be based on solutions which give users the same
opportunities as a direct leased line connection to the
Internet world. TCP/IP protocols are extremely important for
their diffusion among workstation users; they are widely
adopted for CAD and X-Windows applications. High level
interfaces will also produce a great diffusion of networks
in countries without a strong background in network
architectures and services.
5 Future actions and perspectives
The RINAF project has the ambition of setting far more
objectives in motion than those that can be reached with the
Italian funds currently available. At present UNESCO IIP
cannot as yet count on further funding and therefore the
following considerations on perspectives concern the goals
established for the two year period presently planned.
The actual plan is to establish a number of regional nodes
(six are planned) and a number of national nodes (at least
six; the final number, not less then six, will also depend
on the money available and the time to the carry out the
project). The hierarchy of RINAF's achievements is only
linked to the level of the services offered, to the
personnel dedicated to this and to the presence or not of a
coordination activity toward other African countries. Each
RINAF achievement (national or regional node) will be
treated as a stand alone subproject with its own technical
solution, support plan from the group in Pisa, training
plan, etc..
The Technical Coordinator in Pisa has already set up a
support group which is also taking advantage of the
contribution provided by a number of computer manufacturers
and TLC providers. Following the indications of the
Technical Coordinator, they will help in setting up some of
the subprojects in which their technical solutions are
particularly suited.
Something must be said about the approach towards OSI
standards. It is widely known that the network research
environment is highly heterogeneous; therefore, the adoption
of solutions that allow the heterogeneous systems to
interoperate among them is mandatory. The international
organisations, and UNESCO is among them, recommend
utilising, as much as possible, the universally accepted
standards, that is, OSI.
In the real world, OSI applications are not yet available or
not yet satisfying, from a price performance point of view.
In some cases, OSI products are in use in the research
networks and also in the Italian GARR network. However, the
majority of the applications and services interoperate among
them making use of standard solutions at levels lower than
six and gateways or software emulators.
The solutions proposed for RINAF will take the best of the
existing situation, in terms of interoperability, and will
also aim at installing robust and easy to use systems. The
integration into the Internet environment will be considered
as a priority issue; this will also ensure a gentle and
progressive migration to standard solutions, as this is a
primary goal of the research networking environment, and of
Internet in particular.
The present plan is to implement the RINAF subprojects in a
two year period. It is evident to us that, in this period,
it will be possible to contribute to improve only slightly
the present situation of isolation of the research
institutions in Africa.
Therefore, in order to be more effective , it is necessary
to secure a continuation of the project by making other
funds available. It will be a task of UNESCO to secure this
objective for the benefit of the research community in the
African continent.
References
(01) G. Biorci , S. Trumpy, (1990): The UNESCO African
Network Project in Computer Network and ISDN System, Vol.
19, n.3-5, North Holland November 1990, pp.189-190.
(02) L. Abba, S. Giordano, G.A. Romano, S. Trumpy, D.
Vannozzi (1990): ASTRA: a service to access databases over
the EARN network, in Computer Network and ISDN System, Vol.
19, n.3-5, North Holland November 1990, pp.350-355.
(03) R. Adams, D. Frey (1990): | % @ :: A Directory of
Electronic Mail Addressing and Networks, O'Reilly &
Associates, Inc., Sebastopol CA USA.
(04) J.S. Quarteman (1990): The Matrix: Computer Networks
and Conferencing Systems Worldwide, Digital Press
(05) E. F. Casas, C. Leung (1991): OFDM for DATA Commistion
over Mobile Radio FM channels - part 1, IEEE Transaction on
Comm., Vol. 39 n.5, May 91.
(06) C. A. Sunshine (1990): Network interconnection &
gateways, IEEE JSAC Vol.8 n.1, February 90.
(07) P. Baran (1991): The developing countries interest in
data modems - standardization issues, Inter media
(08) N. Lippis, J. Herman (1991): The internetwork decade,
Data Communication Supplement, January 91.
(09) S.O. Bradner (1991): Testing Multiprotocol routers,
Data Communication, February 91.
(10) G. Garriott (1991): VITASAT Global communications for
development, Volunteers in Technical Assistence, Arlington.
(11) E. Thomas (1988): Listserv database function - LSVDB
MEMO file on every active LISTSERV/LISTEARN system.
(12) NSF Network Service Center (1989): Internet Resource
Guide, BBN Systems and Technologies Corporation.
(13) CPR Networks Group (1992): Status of networking
initiatives in Africa, Consorzio Pisa Ricerche, Pisa, April
1992.
Cheers!
Abraham Gebrehiwot
e-mail: abraham@icnucevm.cnuce.cnr.it
RINAF project
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